Selected Italian texts in their social and linguistic contexts.
Given in Italian.
Athena Title
Intro Italian Lit and Culture
Prerequisite
ITAL 2002 or ITAL 2002E or ITAL 2110 or ITAL 2600 or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
The course aims to develop a student’s four skills (aural, oral, reading, and writing) at the ACTFL Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High level through the study of Italian literary texts. At the end of the course, successful students will be able to speak and write at that level.
The course aims to increase a student’s knowledge of important aspects of Italian literary culture by the study, analysis, and interpretation of the major literary genres (prose, poetry, theater). Students will also identify how Italian literary culture shaped Italian society and the mindset of Italians.
Students will recognize literary movements and aesthetics, identifying their main characteristics and socio-historical backgrounds.
At the end of the course, the successful student will have developed an awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of Italian literary culture and of communities beyond their own. Successful students will also be able to navigate interpersonal communication with an awareness of cultural differences.
Students write regular assignments on a variety of assigned topics, several of which are related to some aspect of Italian literary culture. They will produce effective argumentative writing. The writing process involves a first draft and a rewrite. Besides highlighting grammatical mistakes on the first draft, the instructor also provides students with feedback on both the essay’s content and organization. Students correct the mistakes they made on the first draft and revise the essay’s content and organization by using their instructor’s feedback.
Students’ oral skills are developed using specific content-based questions and broader issue-based questions about the literary texts that are discussed in class. The content-based questions are often answered in small groups of two or three students, whereas the issue-based questions are discussed by the whole class. Many of the topics are related to some aspect of Italian literary culture.
Students will assess literary value, quality and impact.
Students will participate in debates, discussions and presentations on literary texts and topics in the target language.
Students will build and share knowledge collaboratively.
Students will analyze, understand and critically evaluate literary texts in relation to their cultural, social, and historical contexts.
Topical Outline
Genres: epic and lyric poetry, theater, prose (narrative,
essay, non-fiction). Poetry by such poets as Dante, Petrarch,
Stampa, Michelangelo, Foscolo, Rosselli. Theater by such authors
as Pirandello, Rame, Fo. Prose by such authors as Bandello,
Machiavelli, Manzoni, Ortese, Eco. Cultural readings concerning
the Italian language question, the role of women in Italian
culture, the Italian city states, the Catholic Church, the
Risorgimento and Italian Unification, the Arts, business and
commerce, immigration and emigration, multiculturalism.
General Education Core
CORE IV: Humanities and the Arts
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
